Apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids with ozone.



A. H. TWOMBLY. APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING AND OXIDIZING LIQUIDS WITH OZONE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 12, 1908.

v WITNESSES:

Patented Sept. 6, 1 9 1 0.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

A. H. TWOMBLY. APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING AND OXIDIZING LIQUIDS WITH OZONE.

I APPLICATION FILED DEO.12, 1908. 969,736. Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' ALEXANDER H. TWOMIBLY, 0E SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR rro GERARD ozoNE PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 12, 1908.

Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

Serial No. 467,317.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER H. TWOMBLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Summit, in the county of Union and State of New, Jersey, have made a new and useful Invention in Apparatus for Sterilizing and Oxidizing Liquids with Ozone, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to 'an apparatus for the purification and sterilization by oxidization of Water or other liquids bymeans of ozonized air.

An object of the invention is to produce an apparatus for the purification and sterilization of liquids, such as water, by means of ozonized air, which will be simple and cheap of construction, and in operation will avoid 'wholly or in part the expenditure of mechanical energy necessary in the operation of the apparatus now in use, with which I am familiar.

A further object is the production in such an apparatus of means for producing a film contact between the ozonized air and the liquid to be acted upon, whereby an intimate inter-mingling islelfected.

These and other objects, which will appear to those skilled in thisparticular art, I attain by means of the apparatus described in the specification and illustrated in the ac- .companying drawings, throughout which like parts are noted by similar characters. I In the drawings: Figure 1 is a-view in elevation of an apparatus embodying this invention; (a portion of the sterilizing tower is broken away to show the spreader or'difi'using agent). Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of one of the perforated diahragms utilized in the sterilizing tower; ig. 3 is an elevation partially in section of the injector portion 0 the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of one of the injectors utilized in the apparatus; and Fig. 5 is a vievt of a modified form of an injector. The sterilizing. tower of the apparatus preferably consists of a number of flanged steel pipe sections8 enameled on their inner surfaces. These are set one above the other and between them the perforated diaphragms 9 are located. The diaphragms are preferably formed of celluloid, which withstands the oxidizing effect of the ozonized air, but, of course, they may be formed of anyother suitable material. The perforated diaphragms serve to intercept the rising ozonized air and liquid and to maintain in close mechanical contact, and as the holes in the diaphragms are extremely small, the action is almost capillary in its fineness. The velocity pipe 10 joins the sterilizing tower at the bottom by means of a U-tube 11, and between the velocity pipe and the U-tube, a valved drain 12 and a valve 13 are located. By closing the valve 13 the velocity pipe may be drained to the sewer or any other convenient place.

A series of injectors 14 supplied with liquid through the valve pipe 15 and ozonized air through pipe 16, connect with the velocit pipe 10 by means of a multiple 17. file liquid introduced through pipe 15 passes through a distributin chamber 17 and thence to'the inlets 18 of the injectors. By meansof a hollow cone 19, adjustable on account of the threads 20, the li uid is caused to take the form of a hollow 1m in a throat 2O which surrounds a hollow film of ozonized air formed by the throat 21 between the hollow cone 19 and a plug 22, which plug is adjustable by means of screw threads 23 and a lock nut 24. A removable cap 25 is provided for each injector and is bolted in place.

The liquid film incloses the inner film of ozonized air, and sinceeach film can be adjusted, its thickness can be regulated to just that desired.

The action of the liquid is such as to produce a suction upon the ozonized air and to keep the films of liquid and ozonized air in close contact with each other for a period of time. The central plug 22 is extended some distance beyond the outlet of the throat 21 for the ozonized air, and the shape of the plug is made to conform to the annular space whereby the direction of flow of the fluids and the shape of the two films is different, causing an intense mixture of the air and liquid.

As the solubility of ozone in liquids, such as water increases with the pressure, a comas been found eflec-tive with water, but, of

course, this may be varied to suit different conditions.

In Fi 3, a number of injectors are shown, but as t e capacity of the injector depends largely upon the headof liquid under which -it is operated, the number of injectors utilized in any given apparatus will depend upon the. liquid pressure under which they are to be operatedl" o Each compression nozzle or combining tube 22 is so constructed that the films of liquid and ozonized air discharged from the injectors 14: are caused to pass through each other. This produces intlmate mixture of the air andthe liquid. The areas of the working passages of the combining tubes are so proportioned, relative to the discharge areas of the injectors and to the area of the velocity pipe 10, that the injectors operate under the velocity and the suction head'of the liquid.

The size of the velocity pipe 10 is of great importance and should be such that the velocity of the liquid and entrained ozonized air is such as to keep the mixture from separating into its component parts from any action such as thetendency of the air to rise in the water; the size of the different branches of the multiple must be correctly maintained-on account of the same condition. In 0 eration it is necessary that the suction hea upon the velocity pipe be maintained without break.

To prevent the air seal in the velocity pipe (which might occur if the apparatus were shut down and the pipe remained filled a to the level of the sterilizing tower with liquid, or if through any cause the air should separate from the liquid and rise to the top of the pipe forming a seal) the valved pipe 12 and the valves 13. are placed near its lower end so that the liquid and air can be drained off or discharged. This valved waste pipe 12 is also used in start ing the injector, the method being to run the liquid through the injectors and through. .the waste pipe until a thorough mixture of,

liquid and ozonized air is obtained, whereupon the valve 13 into the sterilizing tower is opened andthe valve in pipe 12 then closed.

-with the hook 37 by the spring 39.

I The spreader or diffuser 26, which be ofv any desirable, form, is placed at the 111- let to the sterilizing tower. and tends to spread or diffuse equally throughout the bottom of the tower the entering liquid and the ozonized air. I p j In order to .prevent ,liquid passing through the injectors and sterilizing tower without comingin contact with the ozonized air, a balanced valve 27 is placed in the liquid supply pipe 15. This valve is held open by means of a solenoid 28 which is operated by the electriccurrent supplied to the ozonizer. In case the current is stopped for any reason, thus preventing the ozonizers from operating, the solenoid releases the balanced valve and it immediately closes and shuts off the liquid to the injectors.

In the drawings I have shown a more or less diagrammatic arrangement for operating the valve 27 It consists of a weighted lever 36 which is suitably fulcrumed and to. which the valve stem of the valve 27 is connected. A hook 37 is integrally formed.

with the lever 36 and is arranged to engage a pivotally mounted trip finger 38 when the valve is open and the current to the ozoni zers is flowing. The solenoid 28 is arranged to hold the trip finger 38 in an operative position against the pull of a spring 39. lVhen the current to the ozonizer is stopped, the solenoid 28 releases the finger l 38 which is then moved out of engagement This releases the lever 36 and causes the valve to close, and it will remain closed until it is manually opened and the hook 37 brought into engagement with the finger "38.

Upon the sudden closing of the liquid valve, it has been found that the air compressed in the Water passing through the injectors and through their discharge pipes to the sterilizing tower immediately expands and causes the liquid to be discharged back through the pipe 16 supplying ozonized air, which liquid if allowed to rush back to the ozonizers would cause trouble by flood. To prevent this back action of the liquid, a check valve 29 is inserted in the ozonized air supply pipe, and

to prevent any trouble from the liquid which might pass the check valve, a separator 30 is inserted in the .ozonized air line with a drop leg and a siphon 31. This prevents any liquid being forced back to the ozonizers and provides an automatically sealed means for draining the ozone supply pipe. A drip pipe 32 is provided so that any liquid in the ozonized air line may be discharged.

It is sometimes desirable, especially for the purpose of experimenting, that'the injectors may be regulated while in operation and to that end a form of injector is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this form of injector the hollow cone 19 to move longitudinally.

the central lug 22 is adjustable by means of a hand w eel 33, and the hollow cone 19 is adjustable by means of a hand wheel 34, the hand wheel having a threaded port-ion 35, which together with the wheel, is prevented from moving longitudinally of the apparatus, but which by its rotation causes The liquid delivered to the sterilizing tower by the velocity pipe 10 is discharged over a weir 40 into a collecting trough 41 from which it may be delivered. The short fall of the liquid over the weir into the trough frees it of all the excess ozone. An outlet port 42 is provided at the top of the tower through which the gases evolved during the sterilizing of the liquid and the air may be discharged.

Observation ports 43 are provided in every other section in the tower. These ports are covered with glass and are so located that the disk above and the disk below the port may be inspected during the operation of the apparatus.

The diaphragms may be cleaned by shut ting ofl the flow of liquid to the injectors and opening the drainage valve 12. This causes the reversal of flow through the tower and discharges 'the water from the tower into the sewer.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means. I

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids by means of ozone, a sterilizing tower provided with perforated diaphragms, a spreader adjacent to the inlet of said tower, a velocity pipe extending from above said tower, an ozone supply pipe anda plurality of injectors between said ozone supply pipe and said velocity p In an apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids by means of ozone, a sterilizing tower madein pipe sections and placed one above the other, perforated diaphragms located between adjacent sections, a spreader located at the inlet of said tower, a plurality of injectors above said tower, means for. supplying liquid and ozone to said injectors and a pipe connecting said injectors with said tower.

3. In an apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids by means of ozone, an ozone supply pipe, a liquid supply tube, a plurality of m ectors operated by the liqiud, a

tower provided with horizontally disposed perforated diaphragms, a ipe connecting the bottom of said tower wit said injectors, a spreader adjacent to the bottom of said tower and means for automatically closing said liquid pipe when the ozone supply ceases.

4. In an apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids by means of ozone, an ozone supply pipe, a liquid supply pipe, a plurality of adjustable injectors operated by liquid and connected to said ozone supply pipe, a sterilizing tower, a ipe connecting the bottom of said tower wit 1 said injectors whereby ozone and liquid are forced into the bottom of said tower, a drainage valve in said pipe and a check valve and a separator in the ozone supply pipe.

5. In an apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids by means of ozone, a sterilizing tower comprisin a plurality of ipe sections, a perforated iaphragm locate between adjacent pipe sections, a plurality of liquid operated injectors, a liquid supply pipe and ozone supply pipe communicating with said injectors and a velocity pipe communicating with said injectors and bottom of said tower for introducing ozone and liquid into said tower.

6. In an a aratus for sterilizing and oxidizing liqul s by means of ozone, a steril izing tower comprising a plurality of ipe sections, a perforated diaphragm locate between adjacent pipe sections, a plurality of liquid operated injectors, a liquid supply pipe and ozone supply pipe communicatin with said injectors and a spreader located in the bottom of said tower.

7. In an ap aratus for sterilizing and oxidizing liqul s by means of ozone, a sterilizer comprising a plurality of pipe sections set one upon the other, perforated diaphragms located between adjacent pipe sections and observation ports located in alternate sections whereby the diaphragms may be observed.

8. In an apparatus for sterilizing and oxidizing liquids by means of ozone, an ozone supply pipe, a liquid supply pipe, a plurality of in ectors o )erated by the liquid a tower provided with liorizontally disposed perforated diaphragms, a pipe connecting the bottom of said tower with said injectors, means for automatically closing said liquid pipe when the ozone supply ceases, and means located in said ozone supply pipe for automatically preventing back flow of liquid therethrough when the flow of liquid is stopped in said liquid supply pipe.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, an ozone supp y pipe, a liquid supply pipe, a plurality of injectors o )erated by the liquid delivered through sai pipe, a valve for automatically closing said liquid supply pipe when the ozone supply ceases, a check eeense f valve, and a liquid drainage pipe for presupply pipes, and a combining tube between 10 p" 10. In an apparatus of the class described, her, 1908. a sterilizing tower, a velocity pipe extending I venting a b'aek flow of,liquid through said said in'jecior and said velocity pipe. ozone su ply pipe when the liquid supply vIn {testimony whereof, I have hereunto pipe is c osed. Y subscribed my name this 3rd day of Decem- ALEX. H. TWOMBLY. v f1 '0m above said tower, an ozone s'upply Witnesses: plpe, a l1qu1d supply plpe, an injector com- JNO. S. GREEN,

municatmg with said ozone and said liquid CHARLES W. MoGmm. 

